Three events converged in my experience and exploded in an “Aha”
moment, as God basically said, “Did you get that?” – the bulbs sprouted, my son played
basketball, a song played.
Event #1 – I went for a run around my normal neighborhood
route and noticed all of the crocus, daffodils, and tulips that are beginning
to poke up despite the fluctuating temperatures and predictions of coming
snow. It’s a process of nature as
automatic as the constant sequence of waves on the beach or the rising and
setting of the sun.
Event #2 – My 9-year-old son was progressing through his
basketball season at the local YMCA and, to the chagrin of both of his basketball
playing parents, was getting worse. Instead of a nice and easy arched shot at the
hoop, he began to chuck the ball with both hands like a chest pass. We attempted numerous times to offer him some
tips or practice sessions, but he was determined that he would do it HIS
way. It didn’t matter that we had years
of experience and knowledge or that his way was obviously NOT working. He was
not interested in feedback or coaching.
Event #3 – I was listening to my playlist and heard one of
my current favorite worship songs. A
phrase, common in a lot of Christian music, stopped me in my tracks. It was like one of those moments in a movie
where the character flashes back through the sequence of clues that piece
together in that moment to an epiphany.
The phrase was “I give you control”.
What an absurd thought! WE are GIVING God control?! The God of ALL power - the CREATOR of the
universe? He created pretty much everything in the world to operate
automatically by instinct or season. In
the fall, the geese just know when to fly south; the leaves automatically begin
to turn colors and fall. Now with the approaching
of spring, the daffodils and crocus poke back up above the dirt unbidden, the
daphne begins to open its purple, fragrant buds, the rose bushes and
honeysuckle vines show signs of new growth although they have been neglected
for months. Nature in His hand is perfect balance and beauty.
It occurred to me that almost everything in nature operates
in this automatic manner…all except us. While I have long recognized the gift
of free will, I have never considered that humans operate with the power of
choice in a manner NO other part of creation exercises. The All Powerful God has designed it so we
give Him back the control of our lives that He originally gave to us. But like my son, we often willfully resist His
offer for instruction and guidance, to our own detriment. We are convinced we can do this on our own,
despite the evidence that it’s not working.
Only when I surrender to His wisdom and knowledge and perfect love does
my life return, like all nature, to perfect balance and beauty.
